The militants tired to overrun the district, west of provincial capital
Kandahar city.

Four police officers were also killed and 11 police injured while seven
militants’ vehicles were destroyed during the fighting, the police official
added.

In addition, 30 militants were killed and 16 others injured following a
cleanup operation launched by Afghan security forces and U.S.-led NATO
coalition forces’ airstrikes in Baghlan-e-Markazi district of northern
Baghlan province, an army spokesman at the region, Hanif Rezai, told Xinhua.

The raid and airstrikes were launched in retaliation for militants in the
district where 20 army soldiers were killed and many others injured late
Friday night.

Afghan security forces, backed by the coalition troops, have increased
ground and air offensives against militants in the past few months as the
country is preparing for parliamentary and district council elections slated
for Oct. 20.